After a recent practice in which the Devils worked on shootouts, Jaromir Jagr couldn’t help needling linemate Dainius Zubrus.

“If they use you in a shootout before me, I’m going to ask to be traded,” Jagr said with a laugh, beore giving it more thought. “No, I’m going to retire.”

Zubrus loved it.

“It’s okay. I give it to him pretty good, too,” Zubrus said. “In the locker room we kind of go back and forth. I think he has a great sense of humor. I get his jokes. I dish it out, so I don’t mind taking it. As long as it’s just for the fun of it, I think it’s fine.

“I know if we didn’t get along he wouldn’t even be joking. And if I didn’t like him I wouldn’t be joking to him.”

They’ve been teammates since training camp. Since Nov. 10 they have been linemates, flanking center Travis Zajac on the Devils’ No. 1 line.

In their 11 games together, the trio have combined for 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). Jagr has seven of the goals and Zubrus has seven of the assists. It is a line with chemistry both on the ice and off.

Coach Pete DeBoer said is was virtually a desperation move to put that line together.

“I don’t remember the thought process other than at that point we were really searching for some combinations that had some chemistry,” DeBoer recalled Sunday. “It was probably 15 games into the season and we hadn’t been able to find really any chemistry in our top nine forwards.

“I can’t tell you there was a ton of thought put into it other than we were just continuing to try new combinations and it worked. They’re a hard line to play against. I think when you look back at it now in hindsight it makes sense that it would work. They all play a similar style. They’re puck possession guys, they’re big bodies, they like to spend time in the offensive zone and they’re patient.”

Their offense has been vital to a team that still struggles to score goals. But Jagr, Zubrus and Zajac give the Devils more than goals.

“We like to hold onto the puck and play in the offensive end, especially if we see the top (opposing) line on that night,” Zubrus said. “If we can make them play in their own end, that’s something nobody likes.

“Jags is very strong on the puck. He’s good in the corners. Trav is really good that way, too. And I fit in there as well.”

Jagr has been the star. He leads the Devils with 11 goals and 22 points. And he draws crowds of reporters after games.

“Honestly, he’s playing as complete as I’ve seen him play,” Zubrus said. “If he’s the high guy, he tries as hard as he can to come back. Whatever he can do to complete the line, he does it. He does it more than I’ve probably ever seen him do it.”

Jagr keeps the dressing room loose. He kids everyone, but Zubrus is the easiest target.

“He’s not a target,'' Jagr said of Zubrus. "He gets you back.

"The only difference is, he’s not funny.”

Zajac thinks he may have moved ahead of Zubrus on the list of Jagr targets after he missed several scoring chances in the Devils’ 1-0 overtime victory over the Sabres.

“I heard it from 68,” Zajac said.

Zubrus remains the prime target. He also remains relatively underrated for the dirty work he does for the Devils.

“I don’t care. I play to win. I don’t really care that much about what people outside think,” Zubrus said. “Whatever my teammates and coaches think is fine with me. I care about their opinions and their points of view. Whatever credit they give me, I’m fine with that.”

No matter what comes along with it.

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Martin Brodeur, who will start in Montreal against the Canadiens Monday night, said it is still a special place to play. It will be his first game in his hometown since his father, Denis, passed away on Sept. 26.

The goalie played a preseason game in Montreal three days before his father died.

“It’s a lot different than it used to be, but they’re always fun. Not just for me but for any player to play in that kind of environment,” Brodeur said. “To me it’s special because it’s home, but it’s a fun place to play. So I like to play them all.”

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DeBoer couldn't say if any of the injured players, like Stephen Gionta, Ryane Clowe or Bryce Salvador, are close to returning, but he said none have suffered any setbacks.